Nnandi Kanu Arrested, Remanded, Tells Court Why He Jumped Bail
The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has been re-arrested and brought back to Nigeria to face the trial he ran away from since September 2017 after an invasion of his home by the military in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State.
Nigeria’s attorney-general and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, has revealed this in Abuja at a joint press briefing with the State Security Service (SSS) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Malami disclosed that international collaborative efforts with security agencies led to Kanu’s arrest and repatriation to Nigeria. He did not disclose where he was arrested.
Kanu and his co-defendant are facing treasonable felony charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Court orders his remand in DSS custody
Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Tuesday ordered the remand of Kanu in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The remand order was sequel to an application by a federal government lawyer, Shuaibu labaran.
Ruling on the request for remand in the custody of the DSS, Justice Binat Nyako, held that the prosecution should inform Kanu’s lawyer of his rearrest and remand in the custody of the DSS.
The judge subsequently adjourned till July 26 for a continuation of trial.
‘Why I jumped bail’
Kanu told the court that he decided to go underground because his house was raided but he was able to escape, and that if he had not escaped, he would have been killed like other members of the group.
The judge advised him to feel comfortable to stand his trial and urged him to get across to his lawyer for the trial.
Recall that Kanu was granted bail in 2017 and subsequently jumped bail and was declared wanted by the government.
Apart from jumping his bail, the federal government is also holding Kanu responsible for various acts of violence recently in the southeast.
He was earlier arrested on Oct. 14, 2015 on 11 count charge bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods, among others.
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